COURTESY HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
John Johnson, shown at left with a monk, will lecture on Buddhist culture.

UH class coincides with Bhutan exhibit

The assistant curator of the current Honolulu Academy of Arts exhibition "The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan" teaches a noncredit course, "Buddhist Cultures of the Himalayas," beginning June 2 at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

John Johnson's lectures will cover the diversity of the Himalayan region through its history, cultural geography and Vajrayana, or Diamond Path Buddhism.

Johnson, a member of the editorial board of the National Museum of Bhutan, worked for three years in that country to select works and secure their loans for the exhibition. His research, writing and editing were key to the exhibition catalog (Serindia Publications, 2008).

He is a founder and editor of Buddhist Art News, and author of many articles on the subject.

His class will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through June 18 at the Pacific Ocean Science & Technology building, Room 127.

A free prelude to the class, including highlights from the Eric Valli film "Himalaya," will be held at 7 p.m. June 1 at UH-Manoa's Yukiyoshi Room in Krauss Hall. Call 956-8244.

Aviation museum seeks keiki cadets

The Pacific Aviation Museum offers an array of summer programs starting June 1, designed for groups of 10 or more.

"Keiki Air Cadets," designed for 5- and 6-year-olds, takes children on a tour of the museum to learn about airplanes.

Cost is $5 per child. Guided tours for ages 7 and up also cost $5. Both programs are 90 minutes long. A 21/2-hour guided tour for ages 7 and up includes a Flight Lab experience and costs $8.

In the "Just Plane Fun" group program, children learn about aviation science and the principles of flight. They also visit the Flight Lab, which is equipped with individual stations that bring aviation history to life. The program caters to children ages 10 and older with group sizes from 10 to 40. Half-day programs cost $10 per child; full day is $20.

Sessions may be scheduled during museum hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For reservations for groups of 10 or more, call 441-1000. Advance reservations and 10 participants per session are required. See www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.

CRIB NOTES

COURTESY MACY'S

Take in 'ikebana' flower arranging workshop, exhibit

Celebrate the traditional art of "ikebana" when Macy's hosts a workshop on Japanese flower arranging next weekend. Find inspiration for your creations in the exhibit "Watashi no Hana - Flowers from Within," created by Sogetsu artist Carole Sakata and her students. The Sogetsu school was founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara and is known for its creativity and free-style arrangements.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. next Friday and May 31 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 1. Classes will be held in the Special Events room on the third floor of Macy's Ala Moana. Call 945-5894.

Landscape industry hosts meeting and plant sale

The Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii presents "Growing Together for a Greener Hawaii," a conference, trade show and plant sale 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

There is a fee of $135 per day to attend the conference, but the trade show and plant sale are free and open to the public. Native and rare gardenia, hibiscus, bromeliads, orchids, xeriscape and wetland plants will be offered for sale - plus unique garden items such as pavers, lighting and ornaments.